Comments on: Five Challenges of Buying Used – and How to Overcome Them

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:19:55 +0000

I have been a long time thrift store shopper.
I have been complemented on my clothing only to shock the complimenter in response to their “where did you buy it?” question.
On one occasion, a supervisor of a volunteer organization I worked for was suspicious of my designer jeans (she knew I was on a strict budget) and peppered me with statements such as “You can’t get jeans like that around here”, and “How can you afford designer jeans?”. Some people do not respect boundaries, nor have any clue as to how someone on a budget can “afford” something of quality.
All in all, my experience with reactions to my thrift store choices have been mixed. I will always shop thrift stores. It is wise and responsible. I also contribute to thrift stores.

By: Sacred Cow

Sacred Cow — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:47:36 +0000

Goodwill has some great bargins, buying the time to explore all of those bargains with kids can be a hard nut to crack A good list of tips on how to shop goodwill with kids would be a nice appendice to this article for ex. When you bring the kids, make it fun by asking them to be your assistant ‘bargain hunter’; it’s easy to afford a little toy as a reward for patience at Goodwill, as well.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:50:44 +0000

This is a super helpful post, Trent! I have to admit: I’m often guilty of avoiding thrift stores because of the funky smells, the general dirtiness, and the lack of organization.

That said, I think you have me convinced. Dirt can be washed off. Smells can be eliminated. And – treasures can be found.

Your concluding paragraph solidified the argument.

I’m going to give thrift stores and yard sales a second chance. :)

By: mary

mary — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:14:52 +0000

Lots of great comments about buying used!! I get all my books at paperbackswap,Goodwill and lastly, the local library. Sometimes feel guilty about not visiting my friends at the library more often now.
Haven’t seen anyone mention shopgoodwill.com,the Goodwill website. Love this site since they have a lot of vintage,quirky items from all over the country. Their prices aren’t dirt-cheap b/c of the shipping,but love their “going,going,gone” feature where you can bid on items that are close to auction end. I happen to like retired Vera Bradley bags and have found several that were barely used. It’s fun to look at some really WEIRD things that people have donated,too. Talk about cheap entertainment-LOL

By: leonard waks

leonard waks — Sun, 30 May 2010 03:34:53 +0000

We buy every single garment except underwear at yard sales or thrift shops. People love our outfits because of their unusual quality. Why buy a dacron blazer from China at Walmart for $79 when you can buy harris tweed for $5. Really. Really. I have beautiful harris tweeds in a dozen tweedy colors, and when I go out someone will always come over, admire the cloth, and ask “Harris?”

I still have the 1993 Plymouth Voyager that gets 23 mpg because its a stick shift! I would have traded it in during the Cash for Clunkers Rebate program, except it didn’t qualify as a Clunker. You can no longer get any regular mini-van with stick shift.

We live below our means, don’t have credit cards or TV, and every day we have to pinch ourselves about all of our family blessings.

By: Mari

Mari — Sat, 29 May 2010 21:37:52 +0000

@54 Todd – Thanks for an interesting point that made me think. I used to worry about taking deals away from those less fortunate but certainly have no worries buying clothes at Goodwill and Salvation Army and similar thrift shops, as those funds go to help people. Also, this kind of restraint (though noble) is unlikely to help all that much — in my experience, poor communities need infusions of cash and targeted services — it is rare that a shortage of inexpensive clothes is a poor person’s biggest problem.

Another great reason to consider used clothes is that new textiles and clothing production causes environmental damage.

By: teresa

teresa — Sat, 29 May 2010 04:55:19 +0000

One thing I havn’t seen mentioned is that most Thrift Stores are non profit and so the money you spend there goes to help any number of charities. Even shopping at yard sales maybe helping out a family that is in need of a little extra cash. Just think about that when you lay down a bunch of cash for “new” stuff, you choose what you support with every dollar you spend.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:16:17 +0000

I’m a hardcore yard sale shopper – out almost every weekend from the beginning to the end of the season. I love the thrill of the hunt and I also find tons of fabulous stuff (I post pics of my finds every week on my blog). The used items in my home far outnumber those bought new and I very much doubt the average person would be able to tell which was which.
I love buying used because my home (and my wardrobe) is filled with many unique items I’ve found over the years and it feels distinctly “mine”, not like it just walked out of a catalogue. My dh and I were just discussing the other night how much we enjoy the fact that so many items in our home have a “story” behind them about how we came to own them (including quite a few that we reminisce about when and where we trash-picked them, lol!)

By: Carol Cripps

Carol Cripps — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:40:44 +0000

My sitsters and I have our own name for Value Village, the major second hand store here. It’s the VV Boutique, and when asked where we got a specific item, half the time, that’ll be the response. I also buy books there, and housewares, if it’s something I need. I’d love to find a good stand mixer there, though! Most of my book-buying is fiction, and I often use the second-hand stores
to “try out” a new writer, whose work I haven’t sampled before. Then, if I hate it, I’m only out a dollar, rather than ten. I’ll often find “an old friend” as well, of whose work I’m very fond. I once found a book printed in the 1920s, written by Thorne Smith (Topper) for a quarter. You can’t beat that with a stick!

By: Margaret Mary Myers

Margaret Mary Myers — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:32:10 +0000

Good points. I liked your punchline/ending. :)

By: ellie

ellie — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:24:29 +0000

I’m the same as #5 and #67. I’ve never had a comment get through. I think I’ve given up.

By: Pat Chiappa

Pat Chiappa — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:22:22 +0000

I love buying used (smart) and have done so for 30+ years – everything from clothes, to furniture, books, appliances, you name it. But I don’t buy just to buy, I buy only when I need stuff.
I’m a huge Craigslist fan and have been buying, renting, selling, job hunting, for years and just now had my first bad experience. Just last week I got my first clunker – a really loud washing machine. Yeah – it works, but it’s crazy loud. If it were to be run in the garage, it would be fine, but inside the house is a nightmare. But no problem, I’ll sell it myself, with full disclosure and look for another. I even asked for a partial refund, but the previous owner refused – oh well, if it were me, I would have done it.

By: Georgia

Georgia — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:18:22 +0000

I love to shop at thrift stores, but DH does not. He doesn’t like the way they smell. Only one hitch – the ones I like to shop at are 279 miles away. I do shop at yard sales, etc. & have found some great deals. Brand new sweaters for both of us (& the kids when they were still at home).

By: CaliforniaGirl

CaliforniaGirl — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:19:44 +0000

Same as poster #5. I don’t understand why my comments, good or bad never make it through.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:29:32 +0000

Yard, rummage sales etc are much, much cheaper than thrift stores like Goodwill. The Goodwill here I rarely go to as I can find clothes on sale in regular department stores for less. I do go to a couple church run thrift stores though. I find some really interesting knickknacks.
At a yard sale, I found a set of silverplate flatware from the 1930′s for $10. I found the same set for sale on an antique site for $600.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:24:15 +0000

Went “yarding” today. I bought some more baby clothes for our grandson due in Sept. Some of the clothes are SO clean! Where were the spit-up stains? Some outfits were brand new with the tags still on. I paid 25-50 cents each for brand new onesies and $1 to $2 for new outfits.
Last week, DH and I bought a rattan sofa, chair ottoman and coffee table for our breezeway. I checked out the brand and new it would have been about $2400.00. We bought it for $110 and are now going to sell the new set we bought last year. Although a medium priced set, it has really cheap cushions and is no way as comfortable as the used set we bought.

By: Skirnir Hamilton

Skirnir Hamilton — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:22:56 +0000

I also have to say that Thrift stores are more expensive than they used to be. I was looking for a simple polo shirt in my size. Found one at the Goodwill store for $5. Do you know Kohl’s new was $7? (BTW, did not buy either one. Hoping I can do better at rummages.)

At one time I could go to Goodwill and get canning jars for $.10 then after they built the new store in our area, I went in and they were $1 each. Do you know you can go to the grocery store and buy a dozen for less than $1 each?

St. Vincent de Paul has better prices in my area, but worse selection. Salvation Army does not have a place to try on clothing anymore. They relocated for some reason and have a much smaller store. If I went back to Salvation ARmy today though, that would be less of a problem, but at the time, I wasn’t sure what size I would be. Been doing the weight loss thing. (Not sure how much I can now, as I broke my toe last night.)

By: Crystal

Crystal — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:19:22 +0000

My friend and I actually had a lot of fun going clothes shopping at a big Goodwill in our area. Sure, we passed by a ton of things we wouldn’t wear, but I do that at Kohl’s and Dilliards too.

We ended up spending about $30 each two years ago and I still love 4 of the 6 blouses to this day. I accidentally got stuff on 2 of them and just wear them around the house now.

By: walkamungus

walkamungus — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:57:19 +0000

Don’t forget consignment stores. While you’ll pay a little more than at a thrift store, consignment stores are more aggressive about requiring things to be clean, in good condition, and not more than three or four years old.

By: Fashionista4real

Fashionista4real — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:42:22 +0000

I am a budget fashionista, and I ADORE “thrifting”…yes we hipsters have a name for it. Its absolutely wonderful. I love the comment Trent made about the type of stuff he gives away. I am the same, I’ve turned some great stuff over to thrift stores. And I’ve also found some amazing finds. You have to keep an open mind, use a lot of patience, and in a lot of cases have a really “great eye” for good finds. I love clothes, and shoes, and my entire apartment was furnished with 2nd hand furniture, really trendy designer looking stuff and really fun items. I love it! Its fun, and I don’t break the bank! Thrifting rocks! Heck I’m wearing a blouse that I bought at The GW a few days ago..(THE GW..GoodWill) and I’ve received TONS of compliments on it!

Great article Trent!!

signed…
your fellow thrift store, secondhand purchasing enthusiast….